Moderator:

Commissioner Kitty Jung

Washoe County Commission

Commissioner Kitty Jung was appointed to the Washoe County Commission in August 2007 by Governor Jim Gibbons, and has since been re-elected twice by her constituents. Recently selected as Vice-Chair of the Board of County Commissioners, Jung proudly represents District 3, which includes downtown Reno, West Sparks, and Sun Valley. Jung earned her Master's degree in psychology from Humboldt State University and has extensive community service and public relations experience. She arrived in the Truckee Meadows to serve as a lecturer in the Liberal Arts and Public Service Department at Truckee Meadows Community College, where she earned a nomination for Teacher of the Year – both years of her employment. Prior to her election to the County Commission, she was also the Business and Community Liaison for Sierra Nevada Job Corps and served as a Community Liaison for the City of Reno's elected officials. As the Washoe County Strategic Plan Goal Champion to implement legal marijuana, Vice-Chair Jung and her team are proactively preparing for the expected impacts of legal marijuana in Nevada.

Speakers:

Will Adler

Executive Director, Nevada Medical Marijuana Association

Will Adler is a Principal and Founder of Silver State Government Relations with clients in a variety of industries throughout northern and rural Nevada. He has worked extensively with the marijuana industry since 2014, being one of the architects of the medical marijuana industry as it is known today. In 2015 he became the Executive Director of the Nevada Medical Marijuana Association. In 2017 he initiated the formation of the Sierra Cannabis Coalition and continues as their Director. In 2016 he was a lead strategist for the Question 2 – Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol campaign. He continues to represent members of the medical and recreational marijuana industry at the state and local levels with comprehensive services including policy formation, licensing, special use permits, and government representation. In addition Will is Currently the Campaign Manager, Northern Nevada, for Steve Sisolak's campaign for governor.

William Anderson

Executive Director, Nevada Department of Taxation

William Anderson was appointed by Gov. Sandoval as the Executive Director of the Department of Taxation in 2018. Prior to that, he served as the Chief Economist for the State Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation since 2006 where he provided economic and labor market analyses and commentaries to assist public and private decision makers. Before his tenure with DETR, Bill worked as an economist with the state budget office for 10 years. He has more than 35 years of experience as an economist and statistician, including time with the City of Milwaukee, Pennsylvania State University, Indiana Department of Commerce, and the Congressional Research Service in Washington, D.C. Bill earned a master's degree in economics from Wayne State University and a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from the University of Michigan.

Patrick Carr

Project Manager, Miles Construction

Patrick Carr is a project manager at Miles Construction, a diversified northern Nevada general contractor. His portfolio includes many of Miles’ high-profile cannabis developments, including MedMen’s 48,000 square foot cultivation and production facility outside of Reno, which opened in April 2018. In addition to his expert management of MedMen’s Mustang facility, Patrick has also recently completed GTI’s two Rise dispensaries, and is currently managing the construction of their 14,000 square foot production and cultivation facility in Carson City. Throughout each of these cannabis construction projects, Patrick’s adaptability has shone through to meet the challenging demands of this young industry. His in-depth knowledge of the specialized mechanical systems and their integration with the cultivation and production process is a crucial part of his ability to deliver on client expectations. As the cannabis industry continues to take root, commonly accepted knowledge of both the retail and production sides are continuously challenged. Patrick’s diligent research on the newest technologies, practices, and trends drives his ability to help project owners achieve an optimal outcome in an unpredictable market. A budding leader in the horticulture construction world, Miles Construction has completed nearly $25 million in cannabis projects with another $45 million worth of projects in either the design or permitting phase. Prior to joining Miles Construction, Patrick spent 15 years in San Diego where he worked as the onsite administrator for the construction of Terminal 2 at San Diego International Airport, a $223 million project. He also spent four years as the regional construction manager for Petco. Patrick grew up in Truckee and now calls Reno home.

Brian R. Irvine, Esq.

Member, Dickinson Wright PLLC

Brian R. Irvine is a member in the Litigation Department of Dickinson Wright PLLC. His practice focuses on areas of litigation, construction, banking, bankruptcy and creditors' rights, and he is skilled in every aspect of the negotiation process. Mr. Irvine has recently specialized in very large commercial litigation and has participated in two of the biggest trials in Northern Nevada in the past eight years. He recently obtained a judgment in excess of $100 million in claims for fraud and misrepresentation following an eight-week trial. Mr. Irvine is also a member of the firm's Cannabis Working Group and has represented cannabis clients in licensing, land use and litigation matters.

Courtney Meredith

Chief Designer & Co-Founder, Design on Edge

Courtney Meredith is a first generation Nevada native and currently, the chief designer and co-founder of Design on Edge, a boutique family-owned design firm. Over the past 18 years of her career, she has won more than 42 awards for graphic design and business on a local and national level. Courtney has dedicated nearly a decade to help the small business in the downtown Reno area. She was a stakeholder in the Biggest Little City Movement, has helped dozens of small business get their start in the Riverwalk and surrounding neighborhoods and has collaborated with community events, and organizations always urging surrounding businesses to work together. Her dedication to the Riverwalk District and the people in the community is unmatched. Highlights of Courtney's career include helping to start the Riverwalk Beautification program, and advancing the district over the past 14 years into what it is today, she is an advocate for the cannabis industry and works with a client base of nearly 150 local businesses and publications, designing materials for Grammy award winning artists, developing membership materials for the Mob Museum in Washington DC, Award-winning Web Design for Celebrity Wedding Coordinators, and product packaging design and branding for KYND Cannabis company sold state-wide and "Glitzylips" sold world-wide and featured on the MTV Music Awards by Katie Perry. Her companies designs have made their way to the runway at the Grammy award celebrity ceremonies and she has worked on everything from Community Pride Grassroots movements with her peers to State-wide advocacy campaigns for HIV/ Aids awareness. The most important projects have been helping her dad promote his gun store, her Grandfather's Pizza shop, her sister's jewelry business and striving to be a better sister, wife, aunt and soon to be mother.

Thoran Towler

CEO, Nevada Association of Employers

Thoran Towler, former State of Nevada Labor Commissioner, became Chief Executive Officer of Nevada Association of Employers in August 2016. Thoran possesses extensive knowledge and experience in wage and hour rules, employment law, and labor issues. Thoran was the Labor Commissioner for the State of Nevada from 2011 to 2014 where he administered and enforced Nevada's wage and hour laws, set and enforced the state's minimum and prevailing wage, investigated complaints related to the non-payment of wages and violations of Nevada labor law, and oversaw and licensed private employment agencies and apprentice programs. Thoran served as general counsel for the Nevada Association of Realtors and worked as a labor and employment attorney at the law firm of Allison MacKenzie, Ltd prior to joining NAE. Thoran was admitted to practice law in the State of Nevada in 2006. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Technology from Walla Walla University and he earned his law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington.